We went out to see if there were any St. Patrick’s Day decorations in the neighborhood. We found some so the tour is on. We are catered by Foxy’s Proper Pub in Austin. Our entertainment is (who else?) The Irish Rovers
The Lakeway Arts District presents “Women in Art” a very special art exhibition celebrating Women’s History Month from March 1-31st at the Lake Travis Community Library. We are going to attend the artist’s reception. We are catered by Birdies of Austin. Our entertainment is Eric Clapton.
Menu March 5
Snacks
Marinated Castelvetrano olives – Roasted sweet potatoes with black garlic aioli and almonds – Deviled eggs with Calabrian chili and bottarga – Gorgonzola Dolce or Morbier with baguette
Small plates
A simple green salad with citrus, fennel, and a champagne vinaigrette – Butternut squash soup with brown butter and pumpkin seeds – Beef tartare with pecans, sonora, rosemary, and carta di musical – Linguine with crème fraîche, arugula, and lemon
Larger plates
Snapper with lemon potatoes and caper butter sauce – Chicken cacciatore with mushrooms, guanciale, and polenta
Dessert
Heilala vanilla soft serve with blood orange Agrumato – A warm Sicilian-inspired chocolate chip cookie
Let’s get on the bus and go.
There’s the library.
The signpost is up ahead for the exhibit.
Cards for the Lakewat Arts District. Please take one.
Any artist’s reception has to have wine and munchies.
Two works by Artist Sara Schumacher.
Sara Schumacher, on the left, discusses her other works with an admirer.
Art lovers discussing their passion.
Examples of the art pieces.
An Asian flavor.
More examples.
The cards we saw on the way in have been creatively displayed by a young artist at leisure.
That is our tour, so now relax and enjoy the food and music.
Today we are going to try and find evidence of spring. It has been a challenging winter, and a lift of the spirits is in order. We are catered by Odd Duck of Austin. Our entertainment is Willie Nelson.
Our first sign of spring is a blooming mountain laurel
To double-check to make sure the first mountain laurel isn’t a fluke, here’s another.
The oldest redbud in the neighborhood.
Another redbud showing off.
A close-up of mountain laurel blossoms. They smell like grape Kool-Aid
A cross vine bloom and those waiting to pop.
Another large redbud.
A very happy fig. Of course, The Producer puts it inside when the temps are projected to be below freezing. Those days are supposed to be behind us. (knock wood)
The bougainvillea loves the warmer temperatures.
A lone rose left after the seasonal trim.
The greenbelt has blooms.
Another greenbelt bloom making a break for it.
I hope you enjoyed the tour. It is now time to relax and have some food and listen to music.
Today we will participate in a Chinese New Year celebration with dragons. The dragon show is being performed by the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance team. We are being catered by the sponsoring Asian restaurant Sakura of Lakeway. Our entertainment is Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Menu
Chirashi – Chef’s choice sashimi served on sushi rice. Served with miso soup.
Mango House Rolls – Spicy crab, mango, avocado, sweet miso, and tempura flakes.
Creamy Vegetarian – Vegetable broth, fried tofu, wood ear mushroom, bamboo shoot, bok choy, sweet corn, and spring mix.
Rice Bowl – Served with choice of soup: miso, egg drop soup, or hot and sour soup, steamed rice, stir-fried broccoli, snow pea, cabbage, and carrot over steamed rice, pan-fried egg, teriyaki sauce, scallions, and sesame.
Twice Cooked Fish – Sauteed lightly fried fish fillet, snow pea, asparagus, green and red bell pepper, onion, and special spicy sauce. Served with steamed rice.
Mongolian Beef – Served with steamed rice.
General Tso’s Tofu – Served with steamed rice.
Kung Pao Chicken – Served with steamed rice.
Sauteed Shrimp with Snow Peas – Served with steamed rice.
Pineapple Fried Rice – Shrimp, Thai curry, served in a fresh pineapple bowl. Come with egg, bean sprouts, snow peas, onions, teriyaki, and sesame.
So let’s get on the bus.
There’s the restaurant.
Looks like the team is getting ready.
A shot of the team shirt.
The dragons and the team getting a last-minute briefing.
Close-up of one of the dragons.
Here is the other.
The drum and gong.
Practice the moves.
The dragons come to life.
High kick.
Heading toward the crowd.
The drum, gong, and cymbal players are to the left and center.
A dragon led by the cymbal player.
The dragon heads for the restaurant to join the other.
Well, that was the show. Time to listen to the music and enjoy the food. I hope you have a great week.
Today we were going to go on a Valentine’s story walk, but due to the danger of falling limbs, from our ice storm, the walk is canceled. So we will have to do whatever we can to salvage our trip. We are catered by Olamaie in Austin. Our entertainment is Chris Isaak.
Menu
So let’s go.
Our first stop is a house filled with love.
This one shows better at night. There are red up lights which you can see a little.
A wise dog with a heart headband.
Warning signs regarding falling limbs.
Yes we have deer and everyone is warned to drive carefully.
Lots of downed limbs to clean up this week.
Someone definately loves Valentines Day.
Here is the best display ever. What’s not to like about Snoopy and Minnie Mouse.
I hope you liked the brief tour and now it is time for food and music. I hope you have a great week and a Happy Valentine’s Day.
Today we will motor around and check out the ice damage from the storm that passed through Texas. No need to leave the bus since we will be catered to by Paperboy of Austin. Our entertainment is who else but Vanilla Ice.
BRUNCH
classic breakfast – two eggs, maple sausage, potato wedges, buttered toast, apple butter
Today we are going on the heritage tour of Lakeway. There are 22 stops, and we will be chauffeured in a brand-new bus. Of course, we will have to take our bus to get there. We are catered by Odd Duck of Austin, and our entertainment is The Who.
Well, we are back to finish the scavenger hunt. If you missed part I, you can go HERE and check it out. We will be doing the even numbers today. We are catered by Nixta of Austin. Our entertainment is Chicago.
So jump on, and let’s go.
So, right away, we have a problem. This should be number two, but it looks like someone took it. So, after we complete the puzzle, we will have to figure out which letter goes with the number 2.
Ah. At least we have number 4.
Number six, taking a nap.
Number 8 overlooks the drought-ravished Lake Travis.
A certain number, 10.
Number 12 in the mountain laurel.
High flying number 14.
Number 16 on the ground.
Looks like a ground pandemic. Number 18 is there as well.
Number 20 in the trees.
Number 22 has been benched.
Number 24 on a spindly oak.
Numer 26 marks the end of the hunt.
The missing letter was U. The puzzle is solved. I hope you had a good time. Now relax, have some food and listen to the music.
Today we are going on a scavenger hunt sponsored by Lakeway Parks and Recreation. It is titled the GOOD “TIME” SCAVENGER HUNT, and here is a description by the city. Happy New Year, Lakeway! It’s a “good time” to celebrate the start of 2023 with Parks & Recreation! As you walk the lower level of Lakeway City Park, you will find 26 clocks along the trail. Each clock has a letter and number that corresponds to the hidden answer key. Solve the secret message and win a prize!
We are being catered by Canje Caribbean of Austin. Our entertainment is Time of My Life from Dirty Dancing.
Menu
Striped Bass
Tamarind, Rum Butter, Green Mango, Papaya
Acorn Squash
Coconut Choka, Passion Fruit, Black Beans
Curry Wagyu Beef
Rutabaga, Coconut Milk, Chili Oil
Wild Boar Pepper Pot
Cassareep,Orange Peel,Ginger
Grilled Pork Guisado
Berkshire Pork Chop, Tomato, Tomato
Jerk Chicken
½HeritageChicken, Ginger Pineapple Glaze
Let’s get rolling. We only have time for half of the alphabet when we get there. We will be hunting the clocks in order, starting with the odd numbers (yes, we are making it difficult), and then we will fill out the key at the end of today. After next week we should have the puzzle solved.
Okay, here’s the first one. Letter H.
The number three. Letter Q.
Five and V.
Seven is J
Nine equals A
Eleven S. The wind blew this one to the ground.
Lucky thirteen is a K.
Fifteen a D and another grounder.
Seventeen a lazy Z.
Nineteen a Y. Y? because we like you. (not too many of your know where that came from)
Twenty-one is an I.
Twenty-three a W.
Twenty-five, the last for today is a G.
So here is our Key filled out.
Any guesses?
Now that you have worked so hard sit back and enjoy the food and the show.
Prior to New Year’s Eve we had a two day freeze here in the neighborhood. I went out and captured some of the sights. Our tour today is to see how some of the residents tried to protect their plants. We are being catered by Koriente of Austin. Our entertainment is Little Big Town.
Menu
Koriente Curry (A): $9.5
Gourmet vegetarian curry. Lighter and milder than the version you may know, with carrots, onions, potatoes, and button mushrooms on a bed of steamed rice.
Koriente Curry (B):
Our vegetarian curry with rice medallions on a bed or organic baby greens. Pictured with the chicken addition.
Garden Handroll:
Avocado, cucumber, Korean radish, red cabbage, red bell pepper, and carrots. Wrap in dried seaweed paper and dip in soy wasabi sauce or balsamico. Add toppings like smoked salmon or Oyster/Shiitake mushrooms.
Japchei:
A warm bowl of clear sweet potato noodles and an assortment of veggies: carrots, green cabbage, red bell peppers, and organic spring greens. Choose protein options from above and enjoy.
Obake Bowl (A):
Your choice of pork, chicken, pan-seared tofu, or shrimp sauteed with button mushrooms, broccoli, and carrots. Served with steamed rice.
Obake Bowl (B):
The Obake Bowl with rice medallions in place of rice and garnished with a handful of fresh baby greens.
Mixmix Bibimbap:
Steamed rice in a ring of fresh julienned veggies: carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, red cabbage, red bell peppers, and organic baby greens. Served with your choice of red pepper paste or mild wasabi soy sauce. Choose protein options from above and enjoy.
Rice Medallion Saute:
Sauteed green cabbage, mushrooms, and rice cakes served on a bed of fresh spring greens and julienned green cabbage and topped off with a pile of sweet potato noodles.
Shiitake Tofu:
a comforting vegan dish that’s a savory blend of tofu, shiitake & button mushrooms in a miso-soy sauce served over a bed of spring greens, green cabbage, and a side of rice.
Spicy Chicken:
bite-sized cuts of tender chicken in a delicious spicy marinade served with rice and steamed broccoli, and carrots.
Teriyaki Chicken:
Tender boneless chicken marinated in homemade teriyaki sauce served with rice and your choice of steamed broccoli & carrots.
Pan-Seared Ahi Tuna:
pan-seared ahi tuna dusted with sea salt, black pepper, and sesame seeds. served on a bed of spring greens and red bell peppers with a side of steamed rice and soy-wasabi dipping sauce. order rare/medium/well done. great with a side of avocado!
Miso Honey Glazed Mahi Mahi:
thick cuts of Mahi Mahi, perfectly sautéed in a miso-honey glaze, dusted with black pepper and ginger and served with spring greens, broccoli and a side of rice, and red onion relish.
Lemon Pepper Papaya Salad:
a Thai-inspired green papaya salad on a bed of spring greens and carrots, with red onion relish and crushed serrano chili paste, topped with toasted garlic. Served with a side of rice. Squeeze a lemon on top and enjoy!
Jump on and let’s go.
At our first stop it looks like all the beach towels have been pressed into service.
Then there are clear plastic bags and black tarp.
All the king sized linen will need a wash.
Shades of co-ordinated green and blue.
Looks like tent city.
Home Depot moving boxes put to good use.
The pirate crew loves the green plastic.
Monster mash anyone?
Maybe a different plant selection would be in order.
Solid green.
Buckets weighed down with rocks and sheets.
The old stand by. 1000 thread count Egyption cotton
Well that’s the tour. I hope you enjoyed it. Sit back and relax with the food and music.
